What is Spirituality?

Spirituality is not about a religion. Neither is it about gods and rituals. Spirituality is a principled way of life; it's an attitude. There are a dozen attributes to life, to building a positive attitude, embedded in the very word 'SPIRITUALITY'. Let me walk you through each letter of the word 'spirituality'.

'S' stands for Seva, to think beyond yourself and reach out to others. Seva is to be selfless in your thoughts and way of life. Most of us are sevikas or sevaks in some form or other; for we know that the joy of giving is far greater than the joy of receiving.

'P' signals two aspects, the first of which is the passage of life. None of us are immortal. So on this passage of life as William Penn, the poet, wrote, "I expect to pass through the life but once, if there be any kindness i can show, let me do it now, as i shall not pass this way once again." And even as you do so, please do it with a sense of perseverance for perseverance can move mountains. So run your own race in very act of life.

Moving on to the three 'I's in the word 'spirituality', these reflect three distinct values. Integrity, Inner Voice and Inspire – be inspired and inspire others. Integrity is character. Inner voice is the stairway to spirituality as it always goads you to do what is right, to live by one's conscience and by values. Following this stretch is inspirational for you and others as well.

'R' is to learn to smell the roses on your way. Being positive is so restorative. You will never feel that you are ever in the midst of a storm. Every situation can then be faced with equanimity and fortitude. For one knows that this, too, shall pass.

'T' stands for transcendence, so transcend with inner reflection, meditation, yoga, self-control and compassion. The second 'T' says, if you practise these creative ways of looking at life, you will surely attain tranquillity and be at peace with yourself.

'U' is all about the universality and oneness of humankind. On realising this, increasingly you are able to brush aside prejudices. Differences cease to matter. Aren't each one of us just a speck in the universe?

'A' is for acceptance. Accept yourself and others unconditionally. 'A' also entails the total negation of arrogance, and with humi-lity being the ACE in your chosen field.

And this brings me to the letter 'L' that reminds you to have the largeness of heart to remember only the goodness of people and blanket out any pain or hurt that is encountered in varying degrees of relationships. The past and future are of no relevance as we cannot control or predict either. Most important, learn to travel light. The Moment is now. Life is too short, so cherish every moment.

'T', the second last letter in spirituality, stands for Trust. Let me share something that Steve Jobs would say: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." How true!

And finally – 'Y' – the last letter, stands for You – and for me, too. Only YOU can make this happen.

The writer is chairperson, the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.

How to stay young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down..

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5.. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it.. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

But do share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!

Being There-author unknown

Being There

Being there can be lending a hand, lifting a heavy load.

Being there can be a smile on a cloudy day.

Being there can be a crust of bread to the poor, giving shelter from the storm.

Being there can be a thought, a blessing, a prayer.

Being there can be showing support, and enthusiasm.

Being there can be listening quietly while someone else has something important they'd like you to hear.

Being there can be a friendly hug, or a warm embrace.

Being there can be expressions, penned on a page.

Being there can be the transferring of a certain glance.

Being there can be offering your time.

Being there can be sitting silently beside someone to watch the sun slide behind a silver sea.

Being there can be wiping a tear.

Being there can be chasing the moon at midnight.

Being there can be a whisper, a word, a soft touch at the right moment.

Being there can be riding the ferris wheel together without ever leaving the ground.

Being there can be a telephone call, closing the miles.

Being there can be a kiss on a fevered brow.

Being there can be the gift of a flower.

Being there can be teaching with kindness.

Being there can be sharing the depth of a powerful silence.

Being there can be wishing you were somewhere when you must be someplace else.

Being there can be taking someone's place when they must be somewhere else.

Being there can be driving through the blazing brilliance of autumn.

Being there can be just holding hands.

Being there can be waiting out the tough times.

Being there can be touching God through the heart, and letting His will be done.

Read it:)

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, t heir conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly. < SPAN>

THIRTEEN! .... When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

Define Success- Robin Sharma

Too many people are living their neighbors' lives. So many amongst us are building our futures based on a definition of success sold to us by society+the media+our peers. That's fine if you're consciously choosing to live by those values. But what if – at truth – you have a different set of values. And the success you are currently chasing actually has little to do with what will make you happy when you review your life at the end?

My encouragement is to take 60 minutes over the next few days and rethink what you are investing your mental focus and physical energy on. Are you spending your time on work that matters and personal pursuits that are moving the needle forward? Or are you stuck in the thick of thin things? Being really busy being really busy?

A life is a tragic thing to waste. Yet too many of us – born into the potential to live soaring lives as well as contribute to raising the lives around them – waste our best hours on mindless distractions, needless interruptions and activities that are nothing more than an escape.

Focus on these dimensions of your life if you're serious about REAL success:

• Personal development
• Family connections
• Being world-class at your work
• Having a network of friends who elevate you
• Creating a phenomenal lifestyle
• And using your life to make a difference.

That last metric is the key. What's the point of having success but failing at Significance? Yes, chase your dreams and rise to lofty heights in the world. But please remember: greatness comes from living for a cause larger than you. And leaving our world better than you found it.

Just A Few Little Words---- Copyright (c) 1999 Walter Westfall

It only takes a few little words to cause much pain,

and it only takes a few words to cause much happiness.
It only takes a few words to crush a heart,
and it only takes a few words to give a heart joy.

It only takes a few words to alienate a friendship,
and it only takes a few words to make a friendship blossom.
It only takes a few words to cause someone to go astray,
and it only takes a few words to help them find their way back again.

It only takes a few words to destroy someone's hopes and dreams,
and it only takes a few words to give a person reason to hope and dream again.

It only takes a few words to make someone cry,
and it only takes a few words to take their tears away.
It only takes a few words to make someone's day sad and dreary,
and it only takes a few words to make someone's day happy and cheery.

It only takes a few words to cause dark clouds to appear,
and it only takes a few words to chase all those dark clouds away.
Just a few little words can comfort one in grief, can soothe a broken heart,
can bring one back from the brink of despair.

Just a few little words can help someone cope,
can help someone lonely feel not so alone.
Just a few words can calm someone's fears,
and ease someone's troubled thoughts.

Just a few little words can brighten someone's day,
and make their road in life easier to travel.
Just a few little words can lift someone's burdens,
and help them make it through the day.

 

10 principles for Peace of Mind..(anonymous)

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked.
Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.

2. Forgive And Forget:

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive,20Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yours lf in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.

4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody's life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control… If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly:

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:

An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile . Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:

Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over spilt milk?